title: Significant correlation between matrix metalloproteinase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in salivary extravasation mucoceles.
abstract: We examined the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in luminal fluid of 18 extravasation mucoceles and in saliva from Wharton's duct of five patients by means of gelatin zymography and enzyme immunoassay, respectively. The luminal fluid showed a high level of MMP activity compared with the saliva. Quantitative determination by enzyme immunoassay revealed that the luminal fluid contained higher levels of TNF-alpha than the saliva. In addition, the amount of TNF-alpha in luminal fluid exhibited a direct correlation with MMP activity estimated by densitometric analysis of gelatin zymograms. Since TNF-alpha stimulates the production of MMPs from cells such as fibroblasts, these results suggest that TNF-alpha is one of the causal molecules that enhance the accumulation of proteolytic enzymes in luminal fluid of mucoceles.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokushima University School of Dentistry, Japan.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Hoque
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000201:enzymology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009078:Mucocele / Q000201:enzymology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000201:enzymology*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D013364:Submandibular Gland Diseases / Q000201:enzymology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases